Method and means for connecting woven bands



Oct. 28, 1969 c, 5, THOMPSON I 3,474,507

METHOD AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING WOVEN BANDS Filed Nov. 20. 1967 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

6 Char/es \iflon vson Mme/v6 Oct. 28, 1969 c. s. THOMFSON 3,474,507

METHOD AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING WOVEN BANDS Filed Nov. 20, 1967 3Sheets-Sheet 2 10 z" 56 I I r 18 r 42 60 INVENTOR.

16 {a 62 CZzarZ'es ifiom oson Oct. 28, 1969 .c. s. THOMPSON 3,474,507

METHOD AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING WOVEN BANDS Filed Nov. 20, 1967 3Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 67/4 PL 3 J." 72/0MPJ0A/ United States Patent3,474,507 METHOD AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING WOVEN BANDS Charles S.Thompson, Vincentown, N.J., assignor to E.W. Bliss Company, Canton,Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 684,225Int. Cl. F16g 11/00; B64c 1/02 US. Cl. 24265 22 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE The present apparatus pertains to the art of woven bands andmore particularly to a method and means for connecting such bands tosupport apparatus.

The present invention is particularly applicable for use with wovenbands or tape utilized in the arresting gear for aircraft, and it willbe described with particular reference thereto; however, it isappreciated that the invention has much broader applications and it maybe used in various other installations utilizing woven bands connectableto support apparatus.

In present day runways for aircraft it is often the practice to providearresting gear across the end of the runway to catch incoming aircraft,if it over-shoots, for braking or stopping same within as short adistance as possible and within the space limitations at the end of therunway. Such arresting gear, which may also be used on an operationalbasis to stop each landing aircraft, generally includes a cablestretched across the runway and connected at each end to one of twolarge woven bands of nylon, or other like material, each extending fromthe cable to a suitable energy absorber mounted adjacent the runway. Theenergy absorbers provide the braking functions to stop the aircraft. Thewoven bands are each formed on a multitude of longitudinal, or warp,strands extending the length of the band and providing the strength inthe band for stopping the aircraft. A multitude of transverse, or weft,strands are interwoven with the warp strands, holding the warp strandstogether in suitable fashion. The bands must be connected to the energyabsorber at one end and the cable at the other end, and it has been theusual practice in the past to make such connections, especially at thecable end, by means of mechanical connectors, sewed or stitched loops,or through the use of plastic lug connecting means. Various problemsexist with at least the first two of these generally used connectors.Mechanical connectors normally have a short life, due to runwayabrasion, and they also increase the inertia of the woven bands.Further, mechanical connectors create detrimental effects on thematerial of which the band is formed, due to the necessary high loadingon the connectors to assure a safe joint. With sewed or stitched loops,the machines for providing the loops are complex and cumbersome and thesewing needles often damage the hands by piercing, and thus weakening,the strands of the band. Additionally, the materials from which thetapes are made and the density of the strands therein make itexceedingly difiicult to pierce the bands with the sewing needles.Plastic lug connectors have proven successful; however, only one layerof strands 3,474,507 Patented Oct. 28, 1969 'ice was placed in theplastic lug and the strands had to be unwoven into separate filaments.This necessitated a lengthy process to assure that each filament wassurrounded by plastic. Accordingly, there has been an everpresent demandfor a method and means of providing a connection for woven bands thatwill provide strength and integrity in the joint, will be safe withinthe design requirements of the arresting gear and which will betime-saving and eflicient to manufacture and produce.

The present invention is directed toward a woven band connection thatmaintains the high standards required in the overall arresting gearapparatus, is positive and safe in its mounting, is inexpensive tomanufacture and apply, and minimizes wear problems in both the band andthe remainder of the arresting gear.

In accordance with the present invention, a method and means ofconnecting a woven band to suitable support apparatus is provided byremoving weft strands in a portion of the band spaced from the endthereof and forming a loop of such portion, preferably around a shapedbar. The loop or the loop and bar are then mounted in a connectingmember which, in turn, is secured in the support apparatus.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod and means of connecting a woven band by removing weft strands ina portion of the band spaced from the end thereof, bending the band toprovide a loop, preferably around a shaped bar, and impregnating theloop strands with a plastic material to pro vide compressive strength inthe loop for securement in a connecting member.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method and means of connecting woven bands by removing theweft strands in a portion of the band spaced from the end thereof,bending the band at such portion to form a loop, twisting the strands ofthe loop along the longitudinal axes thereof, and inserting a bar havinga shaped cross-section transversely of the band and through the loop.The loop and bar are properly secured in a connecting member, which isattached to the support apparatus.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a method and means of connecting a woven band by removingweft strands from a pair of spaced portions of the band and spaced fromthe end thereof, forming a loop in the part of the band be tween theportions so that the portions underlie each other, and interweaving thewarp strand of one portion with the Warp strands of the other portion toprovide a transverse, or lateral, opening therebetween. A shaped bar isdisposed transversely of the band and in the opening between thestrands. The bar and loop are then suitably received in a connectingmember, which is secured in the support apparatus.

The primary object of the present invetnion is the provision of a methodand means of connecting a woven band to a support apparatus andcomprising a loop portion in the end of the band and including only warpstrands of the band, and preferably a shaped bar extending through theloop and transversely of the band, the loop and band being receivable ina connecting member.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a method andmeans by which a woven band will produce a strong, high quality jointbetween the band and the supporting apparatus.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a methodand means for connecting the end of a woven band to a support apparatusin a simple and economical manner, and maintaining the structuralintegrity of the material forming the band.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing description used to illustrate preferred embodiments of thepresent invention as read in connection with the accompanying drawingsin which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a woven band illustrating thestructure thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a woven band illustrating weft strandsremoved from a portion thereof;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view, partly in cross-section, illustrating apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational schematic view, partly in section,illustrating another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a woven band having weft strandsremoved from spaced portions thereof adjacent the end of the band;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the woven band shown in FIGURE 5,reversely bent in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational schematic view of the woven band shown inFIGURES 5 and 6, formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational schematic view of a woven band, formed inaccordance with the present invention and illustrating the position ofthe loop strands;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational schematic view of the woven band shown inFIGURE 8, illustrating the twisting of the loop strands;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational schematic view of a woven band having aloop formed therein;

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational schematic view of the i band shown inFIGURE 10, illustrating a twist of the loop strands;

FIGURE 12 is a side elevational schematic view of the band shown inFIGURES 10 and 11 and illustrating another twist in the loop strands;

FIGURE 13 is a side elevational schematic view of the woven band ofFIGURES 10 through 12, illustrating a reverse bend in the longitudinalloop strands;

FIGURE 14 is a side elevational schematic view of a woven band havingone form of dual loop configuration in the end thereof;

FIGURE 15 is a side elevational schematic view of a woven band havinganother form of dual loop configuration adjacent the end thereof; and

FIGURES 16-18 are schematic views illustrating a further aspect of thepresent invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for the purposeof illustrating preferred embodiments only and not for the purpose oflimiting same, FIGURE 1 shows a woven band, indicated generally by thenumeral 10, formed of a multitude of longitudinal, or warp, strands 12interwoven with a multitude of lateral, or weft, strands14. It will beunderstood that it is ditficult to accurately show the number of warpand weft strands in the drawing, since the woven band normally used inan arresting gear assembly is on the order of 12 to 14 inches in widthand up to an inch in thickness, and wherein the warp and weft strandsare each formed of nylon filaments of a size in the magnitude of thesize of a human hair. Thus, the drawing is illustrative only.

In preparing the woven band 10 for forming the connecting means, theweft strands 14 are removed from a portion 15 of the band spaced fromthe end 16, leaving the longitudinal, or warp, strands unwoven betweenthe major portion of the band and the end portion 18. The flexibility ofthe band at the portion 15, where the weft strands are removed, permitsthe band to be easily formed into a loop, as illustrated at in FIGURE 3,so that the end portion 18 underlies the main portion of the band. Atthis time, the loop 20 may be impregnated with a suitable plasticmaterial, such as an epoxy or other polymeric substance, illustrated at22 in FIGURE 3 to provide compressive strength to the band material andto form a holding lug.

After the loop 2 is formed in the band 10, but before the plastic ismolded therearound, a shaped bar 24 is disposed in the loop and extendstransversely of the band 10. Shaped bar 24 is of any convenient shape,being round, oval, square, hexagonal or tear drop as illustrated inFIGURE 3, or any other suitable shape, providing an enlargement in theloop portion 20 for purposes to become hereinafter more apparent.

With the loop so formed in the band 10, the bar 24 is disposed therein,and the plastic is molded therearound. The loop and bar may then beclamped in a connecting member, indicated generally by the numeral 26.The connecting member 26 has an aperturn 28 in the end thereof, suitablefor connection to the arresting gear cable or pendant, not shown. At theopposite end of the connecting member 26 is a shaped opening 30 which isof the general shape of the shaped bar 24 and loop 20 as molded withplastic. The bar 24 and loop 20 are held in the connecting member 26 bythe plastic 22, or otherwise, and they will not pull through the narrowmouth of the opening 30. It will be understood that should the bar 24 orloop 20 be in another shape, the opening 30 in the connecting member 26will be correspondingly formed.

A modification of the connecting means illustrated in FIGURE 3 is shownin FIGURE 4, wherein the longitudinal strands 12 in the portion 15 areformed, as hereinbefore described into a first loop 20, and the loop isagain reversely bent to provide a second loop 32, receiving a secondshaped bar 34 extending transversely of the band 10. With suchconfiguration, the connecting member into which the loops 20 and 32 andthe shaped bars 24 and 34 are disposed will be provided with acorrespondingly shaped opening to receive and retain such construction.Bar 24 is molded with the warp strands. In addition, the bar 34 may alsobe molded into a lug including the warp strands.

Referring next to FIGURES 5 through 7, another preferred embodiment isillustrated in which the woven band 10 is provided with spaced portions36 and 38, having only warp strands 12 therein, and spaced from the end16 of the band 10 by a portion 18. The part of the band 40 between theportions 36 and 38 maintains its woven construction with both warp andweft strands. In order to form a connecting means, the band 10 isreversely bent at the part 40 so that the portions 36 and 38 areadjacently disposed, as illustrated in FIGURE 6.

In order to provide a transverse bar receiving opening, bundles of warpstrand 12 in the portions 36 and 38 are intermeshed, as shownschematically in FIGURE 7. That is, a number of strands are formed intoa bundle in one or both of the portions 36 or 38, and passed upwardly ordownwardly between similar bundles in the other portion. The result, asindicated schematically in FIGURE 7, provides an opening 42 into which ashaped bar 44 is disposed, the bar 44 extending transversely of the band10. The loop formed in the portion 0 and the warp strands 12 forming theportions 36 and 38, along with the shaped bar 44, are then encapsulatedin plastic and suitably mounted in a connecting member with an openingso formed as to receive the assembly. If the portions or areas 36 and 38are on separate ends of two bands, this method can form an effectivesplice of the bands.

With reference to FIGURES 8 and 9, wherein the construction is similarto that shown in FIGURE 3, the warp strands 12 are formed in a singleloop 20, such that the end 18 of the band 10 underlies the major portionof the band. In order to provide additional holding strength in the loop20, bundles of warp strands 12 are twisted about their longitudinalaxes, as indicated in FIGURE 9, thus providing a loop 20' to receive theshaped bar around which plastic is molded. The crossing of the warpstrands 12 creates additional holding power in the connecting member orplastic lug.

FIGURES 10 through 13 illustrate another preferred embodiment of theinvention, wherein the woven band 10 is formed in a loop, as heretoforedescribed and such that the end portion 18 underlies the major portionof the band 10, and the strands 12 are formed into a loop 20.

Additional holding power and strength may be obtained by first twistingbundles of longitudinal strands 12, as at 46 and as heretofore describedwith respect to FIGURES 8 and 9, and then again twisting the bundles ofwarp strands 12 intermediate the first twist 46 and the end of the loop20, as illustrated at 48 in FIGURE 12. Finally, the bundles of warpstrands 12 are reversely bent adja cent the twist 48, as bestillustrated in FIGURE 13, to provide a single opening 50 receiving theshaped bar. Plastic is then molded around the warp strands and bar. Theresult is a multiple thickness of warp strands 12 surrounding the bar inthe lug, providing additional holding strength and additional density ofthe warp strands 12 within the lug and clamped between the connectingmember and the bar.

With reference now to FIGURE 14, still another preferred embodiment ofthe invention is illustrated wherein the woven band 10 is provided witha single loop portion 21) of longitudinal strands 12, the strands 12being separated into bundles and reversely bent about the shaped bar 24.The bundles are passed through, or between, other bundles of strands 12to form a second shaped bar 54. A plastic is then molded around the warpstrands to form a terminal lug. The assembly is then mounted, asaforedescribed, in a suitable opening in a connecting member.

In FIGURE 15, still another preferred embodiment of the invention isillustrated. The woven band 10 is formed to provide the loop, heretoforementioned with reference to FIGURES 1 to 3, and the warp strands 12 areseparated into bundles for twisting. The bundles of Warp strands 18 aretwisted and separated to form two loops 56 and 58, the loops receivingshaped bars 60 and 62 respectively, for molding with plastic andsecurement and clamping in a suitable connecting member.

Thus, a means and method have been described for forming a connectingstructure in the end of a woven band. Such connecting structure iseasily formed, creates a positive and strong joint and maintains theintegrity of the overall apparatus in an economical and time savingfashion. For some applications, the encapsulating plastic may not beused. The core member may be molded with the plastic in some instances.

Referring now to FIGURES 16-18, a further aspect of the presentinvention is illustrated for splicing two woven tapes 70, 72 after theweft strands have been removed from portions 70a, 72a, respectively, toexpose warp strands 70b, 72b. In accordance with this aspect of theinvention, the portions 70a, 72a are brought together, as shown inFIGURE 16, and the warp strands are pulled through each other, as shownin FIGURE 17, to form a transverse opening 74. Thereafter, a member 76is placed into the opening to form a spice. To make the splice morepermanent, a plastic lug 78 may be molded around the warp strands andmember 76, as shown in FIGURE 18.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Coupling means for a woven band having warp and weft strands andcomprising a loop in said band adjacent the end thereof and having onlywarp strands therearound, a bar disposed in said loop and extendingacross said band, and a connector member having an opening therein ofthe shape of said loop and said bar and receiving said loop and said barin locked engagement in said opening.

2. The coupling means set forth in claim 1 wherein said strands in saidportion forming said loop are impregnated with a plastic material.

3. The coupling means set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross-sectionalshape of said bar in said loop increases in a direction away from thecenter of said band.

4. The coupling means set forth in claim 1 wherein said warp strands insaid loop are twisted about the longitudinal axes thereof.

5. The coupling means set forth in claim 1 wherein said warp strands insaid loop are twisted about the longitudinal axes thereof adjacent theends of said portions, said strands being twisted about the longitudinalaxes thereof intermediate the ends of said portion, and said strandsbeing reversely bent toward said band adjacent intermediate twist.

6. The coupling means set forth in claim 1 wherein said strands in saidportion are formed in a second loop, and further including a second barextending across said band and through said second loop.

7. The coupling means set forth in claim 6 wherein some of said strandsare displaced out of registry with others of said strands to form saidsecond loop.

8. The coupling means set forth in claim 7 wherein said strands aretwisted about the longitudinal axes thereof.

9. The coupling means set forth in claim 1 wherein said loop islongitudinally reversely bent to provide a second transverse opening,and further including a second bar extending across said band andthrough said second opening.

10. Means for coupling a woven band having warp and weft strands to asupport and comprising a portion of said band spaced from the endthereof having only warp strands, said portion being longitudinallyreversely bent to form a loop and a bar extending transversely throughsaid loop, said bar and said loop being receivable in said support.

11. Coupling means for a woven band having warp and weft strands andcomprising first and second spaced portions spaced from the end of saidband and having only warp strands therein, a loop in said hand betweensaid portions such that said first and second portions underlie eachother, the strands in one of said portions extending between the strandsof the other of said portions to provide a transverse openingtherebetween, and a bar extending through said opening and transverselyof said band, said bar being attachable to said support.

12. A method of forming a woven band having warp and Weft strands forreceipt in a support and comprising the steps of removing the weftstrands from a portion of said band spaced from the end thereof, bendingsaid band at said portion into a reversely bent loop such that the endof said band underlies and extends toward the center of said band, anddisposing a bar in said loop, said bar and said loop being connectableto said support.

13. The method set forth in claim 12 and further including the step ofimpregnating said strands in said loop with a plastic material.

14. The method set forth in claim 12 and further including the step oftwisting said strands forming said loop about the longitudinal axesthereof.

15. The method set forth in claim 14 and further including the step oftwisting said strands forming said loop a second time about thelongitudinal axes thereof, and bending said strands toward the center ofsaid band.

16. The method set forth in claim 12 and further including the step ofreversely bending said loop toward the center of said band to form asecond loop, and disposing a second bar in said second loop.

17. A method of forming a woven band having warp and weft strands forreceipt in a support and comprising the steps of removing the weftstrands from spaced portions of said band and spaced from the endthereof, reversely bending said band such that said portions underlieeach other, passing the strands of one of said portions between thestrands of the other of said portions, and disposing a bar transverselyof said band and between said strands.

18. A coupling device for a woven band having an end and warp and weftstrands woven together, said device comprising: a loop in said bandadjacent the end of said band, said loop having only warp strandsextending around a major portion thereof, a plastic lug molded aroundsaid loop and encapsulating said warp strands thereof, said lug havingan outer shape and a connector having a cavity to receive said lug and aslot communicated with said cavity andthrough which said lug is joinedwith said band remote from said loop.

19. A method of forming a coupling protrusion on a fiat woven bandhaving warp and weft strands woven, said method comprising the steps of:removing the weft strands from a selected axial area of said band whileleaving the warp strands intact; forming said axial area into a loop;and molding a plastic coupling protrusion around said loop.

20. A method as defined in claim 19 including the additional step ofplacing a bar within said loop before said protrusion is moldedtherearound.

21. A method of splicing two flat woven bands each having an end andformed from warp and weft strands, said method comprising the followingsteps: removing the weft strands from an area of each band, said areabeing spaced from but adjacent to the ends of said bands, placing saidbands in side-by-side relationship with said areas overlying each other,bringing the warp strands in said area of one band through the warpstrands in said area of the other band to form a transverse openingsurrounded by warp strands, and placing an elongated member through saidopening.

22. The method as defined in claim 21 including the additional step ofmolding a plastic lug around said warp strands and said member in saidband areas.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 261,140 7/1882 Curtis 2--388 XR968,299 8/1910 White 2338 1,802,657 4/1931 Kellems. 1,999,578 4/1935Sidebotham 139-384 XR 3,215,375 11/1965 Radovitz 244110.4- 3,264,0178/1966 La Garde 24123.2 XR

FOREIGN PATENTS 722,074 6/ 1942 Germany.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

